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It is the worst of times for Volkswagen, and it deserves everything it's getting. If you haven't heard by now, the "Clean Diesel" vendor has admitted to rigging the system for years, putting 11 million cars on the road with inflated efficiency standards. The company's software deliberately tweaked performance and mileage down, only during EPA emissions testing, so Volkswagen could "earn" an overstated rating; but when those same cars are driven on the roads, they are putting out 40 times the pollution Volkswagen claimed. That is the equivalent of 440 million cars. Suffice it to say, several governments (and many consumers) are not amused.

I called it. Yesterday, in my article discussing T-Mobile's new pricing options, I wrote "T-Mobile is shaking things up, as usual, and I wouldn't be surprised to see the other carriers revise and revamp their offerings in response." Sure enough, Sprint has answered the call and not only met T-Mobile's pricing, it undercut the "uncarrier" in an almost desperate bid to be your next carrier.

Apple finally released watchOS 2, after a slight delay to fix some last minute bugs, and now everyone can download the update. The companion Watch app that runs on the iPhone takes care of the downloading and installation, but once that is out of the way, the Apple Watch can finally operate independently and run native apps. Existing apps that work as extensions will continue to work that way, but over time look for app developers to release standalone Apple Watch apps that don't require an iPhone. I've been using beta versions of watchOS 2 for several weeks now, as a developer, but now I can finally write about it!

I've been a fan of Martian Watches for years... long before Apple hinted at a smart watch of its own. Martian Watches offered some distinct features that were unmatched by competitors, and with its latest set of watches, including the Martian Alpha Watch ($279), those advantages still hold up today. I had the opportunity to try one and it addresses many of the concerns I had with earlier versions.

Well, I just got my hands on iOS 9 (not being one to have adopted the iOS 9 beta) and right off the bat, I've got three favorite new features that I've already put to good use. Sure, split-screen multitasking for my iPad is much appreciated—and long overdue—and the upgrades to Notes have made what was an average (at best) note-taking app and turned it into a much-improved compositional tool. Nonetheless, the following features are the ones I've found myself most excited about.

I will probably upgrade to the iPhone 6s, but not for the reasons you might think. Yes, Apple claims "The only thing that’s changed is everything" and that's true. Almost every element of the iPhone 6 has been enhanced. The metal is stronger. The screen has 3D Touch. The camera is a big improvement. The processor is faster, as are the graphics and networking. If your job was to repair iPhones, there are almost no components from the older iPhone 6 that could be reused in the iPhone 6s. It is entirely new. Everything has indeed changed. Apple has a valid point and it is also trying to head off the inevitable "nothing's changed" criticism that comes with any "s" model.

Many of the details had leaked ahead of time, but seeing them altogether in Apple's presentation gave a wholeness that was more than the sum of the parts. Each new device was astonishing, with Apple again taking the industry in new directions. 3D Touch on the iPhone, Siri integration in Apple TV, multitasking and a stylus on a 12.9-inch iPad, and the heartbeat of a baby and her mother viewed on a doctor's Apple Watch — all these things and more showed that Apple continues to have the vision that has made it the most highly valued company in the world.

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